Halloween: What are you giving Trick or Treaters?

Gloomendoom

Nothing. We will be spending the evening in the cellar with all the lights turned off above ground.

I'm not having pesky kids spoiling my evening.

Ergates

SuperPikachu wrote: »

So you think taking your kids round to complete strangers houses to harass them for free sweets is a "fun" thing to do?

Well, the kids enjoy it, so I guess so. Though I wouldn't call our neighbours "complete strangers" and I wouldn't call knocking on the doors of willing participants (indicated by pumpkins and/or other decorations) as harassment.

SuperPikachu wrote: »

I think you misunderstand my meaning of not seeing the point of it - I mean as in it has nothing to do with what Halloween was about.

OK, fair enough, it doesn't. But I don't really see this as a problem as such. It's just an excuse to dress up and put up "spooky" decorations. It's light-hearted fun. I'm not a Christian* but I still celebrate Christmas in a secular way - because getting together as a family and sharing gifts and food is nice.

* or follower of whatever pre-christians festivals that - Christmas was based on etc etc.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Probably mini bags of Haribo.

It's exciting for children - they get to dress up, go out in the dark and show people their costumes. Even the locals teenagers enjoy it, as whilst they're playing/behaving more like a smaller child in some ways, they're also being grown up and responsible by taking charge of their little brothers and sisters and keeping them safe and showing them they need not be scared by monsters or the dark. In any case, kids are cute, kids in costumes are cute and sweets are better than the old fashioned thing of trailing around with a bunch of clothes stuffed with newspaper and asking for a Penny for the Guy (which would probably go on fireworks to be set off in the street a few nights later).


I always make sure the older ones get some sweets as well; they might not have got to go when they were smaller - never had any problems.

seven-day-weekend

Nothing. I never allowed my son to do it so I will not support other children doing so.

Silian

Halloween is my favourite 'holiday'and the only one I do my house up for. This year is 'spider theme'

(And no, we didn't go trick & treat as children but I always wished I could)

euronorris

I have some cheapie soft, chewy sweets from lidl and a bag of similar moam sweets. Will leave those in a bowl on the front step with the pumpkins for trick or treaters to help themselves too (they've been very respectful and only taken a couple each in the last 3 years we've been living here).


And I will be taking DD out for her first ever trick or treating session. She is very, very excited about Halloween. Mainly because she gets to dress up and she loves that! lol


We'll only knock on doors with pumpkins/decorations. That's what everyone in this area seems to do. The first year after DD was born, she was only a few months old. We still put out pumpkins and sweets, turned the doorbell off (so as not to disturb baby) and put up a sign saying baby was sleeping, please take some sweets and have fun, but please be quiet due to baby. Everyone respected that, so I have no complaints

Pollycat

Grezz24 wrote: »

So many people ignoring the door/bell which i think is a real shame.

We will be giving out sweets and will be taking our son out too. But then there is a sense of community spirit here so id expect to see a lot of people out as per normal each year.

Why is it a shame?
My house, my choice whether to participate or not.
I choose not to.

If anything is 'a shame' it's having hordes (literally) of kids disturbing people who do not want to be disturbed.

Dizzy_Ditzy

There will be a polite sign in the window wishing knockers a nice evening but telling them not to knock on my door. Some of the kids around here are feral. My cat has a very nervous disposition and she freaks at people just walking past, never mind hammering on the door

LameWolf

Nothing.


We don't generally get them around here, thankfully; but I choose not to participate in trick or treat in any case.

PasturesNew

Absolutely nothing. I've never ever had anybody knock .... so it'd be really weird if I were to sit home alone with sweeties for little girls and boys. If I did that the rest of the year I'd be labelled a p4ed0 and have the house egged, no doubt!


As for that "if there's a pumpkin ... it's OK" - NO - it's not OK because that's an arbitrary rule that a few people made up themselves.

In ye olden days IF you were having family/friends over for tea or a small get together or a small party you'd put out decorations for YOUR family, for YOUR guests who were arriving.

Nobody wants gormless idiots turning up at the door on the beg just because they've been told some ridiculous rule.

The POLICE tell people only to go where you're known .... which is contra to the "pumpkin" advice.